Lighter



June 24, 1930.

A. G. STEVENSON LIGHTER Filed May 31, 1928 rumm mm HHH 2 Sheets-Seet l lNVENTOR lar to Fig. 2, also showing the atented .une 24, 1 930 PATENT orrcs ARTHUR G. STEVENSON, OF ROOI'IESTER, NEW YORK LIGH'rEn Application filed May 31, 1928.

This invention relates to a lighter for cigars, cigarettes, pipes, or other uses, an has for its principal object the provision o a more satisfactory and efificient lighter than those heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is the pro- Vision of a. lighter which may be manufactured easily an-d cheaply.

A. further object is the provision of a lighter which is small and compact, and one which may be mounted easily and quickly in any desired position, such as upon an automobile.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a light-er which will operate satisfactorily and with a minimum of care or attention on the part Vof the user.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hercinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a device embodying a preferred form of the invention, illustrating it as applied to a member which is shown partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan of one holder with the torch removed;

Fig. Li is an elcvation of the torch removed from the holder;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through the torch;

Fig. G is a longitudinal section througha portion position for lighting the wiek; i

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing the holder in section,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view somewhat simiholder in secbeingat right of the device;

end of the tion, the plane of the section angles to the plane of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a transverse section `taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is an end view of the wick end of the torch.

of the holder showing the torch in P serial No. 281,989.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The lighter consists, in general, of a holder, and a torch element which may be inserted into and withdrawn from the holder, the parts being so arranged that the torch will be lit automatically as it is withdrawn. Vhen the torch is removed from the holder, it will remain lit if desired for a considerable period'of time, and as there is no physical connection between the torch and the holder, the former may be passed around from one to another in a crowd and may be removed as' far as desired from its holder.

The holder consists in part body preferably formed of a suitable insulating material. A plug 16 closes one end of the body, as shown especially ,in Figs. 7 and 8, this plug having a cup-shaped recess 17 formed therein.

of a tubular The holder 15 is provided with means for I attaching it conveniently to any desired article, such as the dashboard of an automobile, This means may comprise a U- shaped bracketmember 18 (Figs. 1 and 7) which has a screw 19 threaded therein as shown. By tightening the screw 19, the member 18 may be clamped to any suitable projection, ledge, or shelf, such as that indicated by the numeral 20 in Figi. 1.

For connecting the body 15 of the holder to the bracket 18, there are preferably metallic members attached to the bracket and partially encircling the body of the holder. One of these members, designated as 21 and shown in section in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and in lan in Fig. 3, is fixed by suitable means to the bracket 18 and has anannular portion encircling one end of the body 15 of the holder, this annular portion having a downturned flange 22 at its edge as shown.

A. somewhat similar member 23 is the other end of the U-shaped braclcet 18 and encircles the body 15 of the holder adj acent a sli ght shoulder 211 forined theroon. A flange 25 on the member 23 is turned over so as to lie against the body of the holder, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. The body 15 of the holder is thus ,securely aflixed Vto thebracket 18 by means of these members 21 and 23.

fixed to w Vconducting rod 31 being A passageway extends longitudinally through one side of the holder 15, and in this passageway is mounted a rod 30 formed of suitable electrical conducting material, the rod being shown in Figs. 6 and 8. As is also illustrated in these figures, a cross passageway eXtends transversely through the wall of the holder and intersects the rod 30, a short placed in this passageway. The inner end of the rod is substantially flush with the inner surface of the tubular holder 15, but the rod is shorter than the thickness of the wall of the holder, and an insulating plug 32 covers the outer end of the rod 31 and prevents external contact therewith.

Preferably the rod 31 is of somewhat smaller diameter than the rod 30, and the former is forced into a hole bored through the latter so that a good electrical contact is prodnced between the two rods. The lower end of the rod may be threaded as at 33, and a member 34, adapted to have a wire or other suitable electrical conductor 35 secured to it by solder or by other means, is arranged to be screwed onto the threads 33 in order to connect the rods 30 and 31 to a source of current.

he retaining member 21 has a lug or lip formed thereon, which lies against one side of the holder 15, as illustrated in Figs.

l, 6 and 8.V Beneath this lip a passageway is formed transversely through the wall of the holder 15, and'in this passageway is placed a sleeve or bushing member 41 having the inside diameter of its inner end slightly reduced so as to retain` a ball 42 pressed inwardly by a coiled spring 43.

The retaining member 23, near the opposite end of the holder from the member' 21,

is provided with a lip or lug 45 somewhat similar to the lip 40 on the member 21. A short` scre'w 46, shown in Fig. 8, is threaded through this lip 45.' The screw. 46 is not' of sufcient length to reach the rod 30, but always reinains insulated therefrom, no matter how far it is screwed up. TheV purpose of this screw is to provide a convenient means of attaching an electrical conductor, as will be described below. i

The torch element which cooperates with the holderis bestillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. It comprises a tubular body portion 50 having` an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the holder' 15, so that it may beeasily inserted in or withdrawn from the holder; One end of the tubular body is closed by a'screw cap 51, which may be removed for the purpose of replenishing the fuel within the torch, or for changing the absorbent packing 52 which holds the fuel. A wick 53 passes through the packing 52 and extends out of one end of the torch through a wiek-holding` bushing 54;; This wiek-holdingV element is preferably a cylindrical extension formed on a cup-shaped sleeve 55 Zwhich fits within the through the wall of the vportion o" i tact with the 'against the plug 18,

meaess tnbular torch and extends some 1istance from the end of the torch toward the middle, as shown in Fig. 5. The parts 54 and 55 are made of electrical conducting material, while the body 50 of the torch is preferably of insulating material.

A ring 56, of metal or other oonducting material, encircles the body of the torch at a point somewhat spaced from the wicl-I end thereof. A short rod or plug 5? extends torch and provides an electrical connection between the ring 56 and the cnp-shaped slcevc 55.

Mounted on the wiek end of the torch, and extending aroundthe wiek-holder 511, is a member 58 having a dished or cupped portion 59 which eXtends forwardly from the end of the torch. lt will be understood that the member 58 is annular, its center being cut away, and the wicl'-holder is, substantially in alineinent with thev cut-away portion. Thus the inner edge of the dished portion 59 is spaced from the wiek holderli to form a spark gap between the wicl: holder and the member 58. .in the einbod illnstrated, the dished or cupped portion 59 of the meinber 58 is snbstantially in the Snape of frustrum of a cone, but other suitable shapes could be used if desirod, or a single prong may bev used to form the spark gap instead of having .an annular member completely encircling the wick holder.

A; ring-like cylindrical flange 60, formed the member od, encircles the body 50 of the torch, and is retained thereon by suitable means such as the crimps 61, shown in Fig. 5.

is spaced iroin the rii I;'-lile he men'iber 58 aV distance substantially eqnal to distance by which the ball member 42 is offset from the rod 31. when the torch is moved relatire to the holder to such a position that the 'G0 is opposite the rod 31, the ball will the be in conring 5G, this po parts iilustrated clearly in g', 6 A groove 65 is formed in the body the torch in such position that it will be opposite the Vball 12 when th'etorch is seated against the plug 15, illustrated in lfigz'l. `When the torch-is in this position, the hall 42 acts as a Vspring detent to hold the 'torch seated against the end of the holder and to prevent it from becoming jarred looseV The T sl der-s on the pln 'o i support the of wicl: and the sparlr gap p within the cavity 17.' They are thus ed from beconiing bent end of the holder.

lVhen the lighted holder and thrust The ring i. U

received by contact with the torch is replaced in the to its noi ml nosii +1 .".l .L L 1 ne end or the rorcn coming into contact witlthe annular shonlder on the plug renders the cavity 17 practically af prevent-- sealed cham-ser, and thus the flame is imme diately extinguished due to lack of Oxygen. As the torch is Withdrawii from the holder, suficient air is admitted through the openings and 67 to support combustion.

In use, the holder is fixed to any convenient support and is Wired up to a source of high tension electrical current. For purposes of illustration, the device is shown in Fig. 1 as being applied to a metal ledge 20 which may be, for example, part of the dashboard or other metal portion of an automobile. This portion 20 is grounded, as is illustrated diagraminatically by the conductor 70 and the conventional representation of the ground 71. A battery is indicated conventionally at 72, one terminal of the battery being grounded and the other terminal being connected by a conductoi' 7 3 to a spark coil or other high tension produciirg` device 7'4. The conductor 35, Which has been inentioned above,ris connected to the high tension side of the spark coil 74. i

It is obvious that any suitable source of electrical current could be used, and that the above parts are cited merely by Way-of ei;- ample. The spark coil might be omitted if a suitable source of current Were available Without the use of the coil. i i

With the parts Wired up in the manner iiidicated iii Fig. l, it is ebvious that tl e rod 31 Wil1 be electrically connected to the source of current through the rod 30, the screW member 8d and the conductor 35. Likewise, the

`Dali 43 Will bc electi'icaliy connected to the other side of the 'source of current tiroug'h the lip 4-0, retaining member 21, bracket 18, metalli" member 20, and conductor 70.

Now as the torch is Withdrawn from' the holder, the ring' 56 Will be in contact With the vball 42 at the same time that the ring is opposite the rod 81, as illustrated in Fign G and as described above. `'Since the ring 56 is electrically connected to the wicl: holder 5a, and since the dished portion 59 of the member 58 is electrically connected to the ring portion G0, it follows that the two meinbers 54: and 59 Will be connected to opposite sides of the source of current, and obviously they Will form a spark gap across which a sparl: will jump. This spark will ignite the torch, which may then be used as a lighter for cigars, cigarettes-or 'pipes, or for any other purpose, and may be removed as far as desired from its holder. Since'the torch is provided With its own supply of fuel, it.

tionally Within the holder, alt-hough itdoes er 54, which pocket retains a certain amount i :of fuel vapor, holding it in close prozimity to the Wiek and aiding the torch to lit easily.V i I Whenever it is impossible or iiiconvenient to 'clanip the torch liolderon aiinetajllicimembei' vwhich is connected to one side of the source of electric current, it may be clamped to any convenient ledgeor support andan electrical Wire maybe 'attached to the frame of the holder by means of the screw 46. This Wire would lead, of course, to the opposite side ,of the source of current to that which Was connected to the conductor 35. Any electrical connection to the screw 46 accomplishes the same purpose as though the connection Were made to the bracket 18, since the screiv 4:6 is threaded into the lip Q5 Which is part of the retaining' member 23, which latter is secured to one end of the U-shaped braeletV 18.

The open end of the holder 15 may be provided with rounded Shoulders 8,0 so that the torch may slide easily into the holder Without the necessity'of aligning it accurately there- With prior to the introduction ofthe torch. The shoulder of the member 58 maybe somewhat rounded for the same purposei i 't is not essential that the rod 31 'come into actualcontact With the ring (50 duringthe Withdrawal of the torch, since if :the end of the rod is slightly 'spaced from the ring the high tension current will jump easily from the rod to the ring and the desired spark be;- tWeen the members 54: and 59 will result, thus igniting the torch. g I

VVhile one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be uiidei'stood that ,the inventive idea may be carried `out in a number of ways.

of the iiivention or-f the scope of the appen ded T claim Vas my inventionV i 1. The combination With a torch having spark gap thereon,of Vaholder in which said torch is 'normally received, said torch and holder being capable of inoveinent relative to each other,-and means forcausing afsp'i'rl: across said spark While said torch is'being Withdrawn from its normal position in the holder.

'2. :The combination Witli a torch having .a spark Vgap thereon, of al holder in which lsaid torch is' normally received, said torcli and holder being capable of movement relative to each other, 'electrical conductors on' said torch operatively connected tovs'aid sparl gap, and

l;electricalcoiiductors on saidholder arranged This application is, therefoi'e, not to be limited to the precise details shown,

esi

,iso p Aro' to be in contact With the conductors on the torch as said torch is being withdrawn from its normal position in t-he holder.

3. The combination with a torch having a spark gap thereon, of a holder in which said torch is normally received, said torch and holder being capable of movement relative to each other, electrical conductors on said torch operatively connected to said spark gap, and electrical conductors including a V spring pressed detent on said holder' arranged to be in contact with the conductors on the torch as said torch is being withdrawn from its-V normal position in the holder.

4. The combination with a torch having a. spark gap thereon and including a pair of spaced electrical conductors exten'ding circumferentially around said torch' and electrically connected to said spark gap, of a holder for said torch, said torch and holder being capable of movement relative to each other7 and a pair of electrical conductors on said holder spaced from each other in the direction of relative movement substantially the same distance as the spacing between the con-- ductors `on the torch in the same direction, said conductors on the holder being arranged to be in contact with the conductors on the torch when said torch and' said holder are moved to a predetermined position rel tive' to each other.V

5. A torch including a tubular body portion of insulating material, a wiek-holding velement formed of an electrical conducting material, an electrical conducting ring e):- tendingl circumferfmtiallyV around said torch and connected to said wiek-holding element,v and a conducting member spaced from said wiek-holding element to form a sparl: gap between said member and said element. 6. A torch including a tubular body por-- tion, a wiek-holding element formed of an electrical conducting material, and an 'elec- Vtrical conducting member extending around said wiek-holding element and spacedtherefrom to form a spark gapbetween said member and said element, said member beingV dished to forma pocket Vfor Vholding fuel vapor in proximity to said spark'gap.

7. A lighter including a tubular holder having pair of electrical conducting ele-v ments on the inner'wall 'of said holder,said

' elements being spaced from each other in a direction long'itudinally of said holder, and a torch adapted to be inserted into and witl drawn from said tubular holder, said torch including a wiclr, a metallic wiek-holding element having an electrically connected portion extending cir'cumferentially around saidV torch and arranged to Vcooperate with vone of the conducting elements on the holder when the torch is in a predetermined position relative to the holder, said torch also inclndinga V metallic member spaced fromfsaid wiek-holding element to form a spark ga-p between said member and said element and an ele'ctrically connected portion in the form of a ring eX- tending circumferentially around said torch, said ring being arranged to cooperate with the other of the conducting elements on the holder when said Wiek-holding element cooperates with one of the conducting elements on the holder. i

8. The combination with a torch including a spark gap and a pair of electrical conductors operatively connected to said spark gap, of a holder for said torch, said torch and holder being capable of relative movement, said holder including a pair of electrical conductors for Cooperation with the conductors on the torch when the torch is moved to a predetermined position relative to the holder, one of said conductors being in the form of a detent for holding the vtorch and the holder yieldably in predetermined position relative to each holder.

9. A holder for an electrically operated lighter torch, said holder including a U- shaped braclret member, a tubular body portion formed of insulating material and attached to said braci-:et member, and a pair of electrical conductors on the inner wall of said body portion arranged to cooperate with a torch inserted in said body portion, one of said conductors being electrically connected to said U-shaped bracket. i

10. A holder for an electrically operated lighter torch, said holder including a U- shaped bracket member, a tubular vbody portion formed of insulating material and at-V 'toward the center of said tubular portion.

ARTHUR Gr. STllJVllNSON. 

